diyhealth.com

Hyperthyroidism: Causes and symptoms

Hyperthyroidism is a condition caused by the excessive production of the thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland. In a normal person, the thyroid produces the hormones T3 and T4 in the right amounts. In hyperthyroid cases, the production is more, technically described as thyrotoxicosis, which alters the important activities of the body. Women are 5-10 times more likely than men to develop hyperthyroidism. These hormones regulate many aspects of our metabolism and contribute towards the factors such as the calories we burn, the weight we gain or lose, and how warm we feel. We can say that the thyroid influences our metabolic rate.

Thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland situated in lower part of the neck below the Adam’s apple. The thyroid removes iodine from the blood and uses it to make the thyroid hormones T3 (tri-iodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine). T3 plays a vital role in most of the biological activity of the body. T4 released by the thyroid gland into the blood is converted into T3 the more active hormone that controls the metabolism of the cells. The American Thyroid Association recommends adults especially women to undergo blood test every 5 years after the age of 35.

Causes of hyperthyroidism

1. One or more thyroid nodules

Thyroid nodules, also called adenomas, are lumps in the thyroid. Thyroid nodules are common and usually non-cancerous. About 3 to 7 percent of the population suffers with this. Nodules become overactive and produce too much hormone.

2. Thyroiditis

The stored thyroid hormone leaks out of the inflamed gland and raises the hormone level in the blood. The types include subacute thyroiditis, postpartum thyroiditis and silent thyroiditis.

3. Iodine ingestion

The thyroid hormone is made by the thyroid gland using iodine, so the amount of iodine you consume has a direct effect on the thyroid hormone produced.

4. Excessive intake of thyroid hormones

Over medication of synthetic thyroid hormone used to treat underactive thyroid is one of the factors for causing hyperthyroidism.

5. Graves’ disease

The Graves’ disease named after an Irish doctor is the main cause of hyperthyroidism. In the United States, Graves’ disease referred as toxic diffuse goiter. It is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body’s immune system acting against its own healthy cells and tissues. The condition can be summarized as the over production of the thyroid hormone by the enlarged thyroid gland. It makes the antibodies that are made by the patient’s immune system attach to the specific activating sites on the thyroid gland and thereby causing the thyroid to make more hormones. These antibodies include thyroid stimulating immunoglobin (TSI) antibodies, thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibodies. Graves’ disease often run in families. We can say that Graves’ disease alters the metabolism of the body. The triggers of the Graves’ disease include stress, radiation to the neck, smoking, viruses and medications. The Graves’ disease may be associated with eye disease (Graves’ ophthalmopathy) and skin disease (dermopathy). Though ophthalmopathy and dermopathy are independent of the thyroid disease, they may occur before, after or at the same time as hyperthyroidism.

Rarely hyperthyroidism is caused by pituitary adenoma which is a non-cancerous tumor of the pituitary gland. Too much of thyroid stimulating hormones is the reason behind this tumor.

Symptoms of hyperthyroidism

All hyperthyroidic patients do not experience the same symptoms listed below. Some of the patients may show no symptoms at all. The symptoms depend on the age of the person, how long he is suffering from the condition and the amount of the thyroid hormone the thyroid gland is making. Here are a few symptoms:

  1. Nervousness

  2. Have tremors/shakiness

  3. Sweat a lot; having warm, itchy and red skin

  4. Rapid and irregular heart beat

  5. Heat intolerance

  6. Mood swings

  7. Appetite change

  8. Muscle weakness or fatigue

  9. Insomnia

  10. Light or absent menstrual periods.

  11. Problems with infertility

  12. Sudden paralysis

  13. Development of enlarged breasts in men

  14. Loose and frequent bowel movements

  15. Hair fall

  16. Loss or gain of weight

  17. Graves’ disease show special symptoms such as:

    Goiter where the thyroid gland is enlarged but is painless, thickened nails that lift from the nail beds, lumpy thick reddish skin found on the feet and Graves’ ophthalmopathy (In this eye disorder, the eyes bulge and become red).

Hyperthyroidism can be easily treated by a physician leading to a healthy life. If left untreated, it may cause serious heart ailments, bone problems and finally a life-threatening situation – a thyroid storm may arise.

Today's Top Articles:

Scroll to Top